Ditching and grading machine.



w. T. PHIPPS.

DITCHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONHLED JULY 24,.1915.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

"2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. T. PHIPPS.

DITCHING AND GRADING MACHQNE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 2'4. 191s.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WILLIAM T. PHIPPS, OF OWENSIBORO, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNDR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES M. KIMBLEY, OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY.

DITCHING AND GRADING MACHINE.

Application filed July 24, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM T. PI-nrrs, a citizen of the United States. residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching and Grading Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a ditching and grading machine.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a machine of this character wherein two blades are provided each of which may be alternately used as a guide or a scraper.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a rudder, the position of which may be varied so as to determine which of the blades is to be used as a guide and which as a scraper. a

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for locking the rudder in its adjusted positions.

A still further object resides in the provision of a ditching and grading machine which will be efficient in'operation, simple in construction, durable, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

\Vith these and other objects in view, such as will appear as my description progresses, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the rudder in its operative position; Fig. 3 is a similar View with the rudder swung partially to the opposite side of the machine; Fig. 4- is an elevational view looking at the inner face of one of the blades; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken in a vertical plane through the blades and rudder beam; Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the clips for preventing the movement of the blades on their hinges when the machine is in operation; Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail showing the manner of liinging the blades to the rudder beam; andFig. 8 is a detail of the rudder.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein like parts are indicated Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 41,724.

by like characters throughout the several views: in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, a pair. of scraper blades 1 and 2 are provided, the lower edges of which are curved outwardly as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing so as to cut into the ground. Arranged between these blades 1 and 2 is a rudder which includes a beam 3 and a downwardly extending blade 1. This beam3 extends between a pair of plates 5 and is pivotally mounted on a bolt 6 which extends through the plates and through the beam. Secured to the outer face of each of the plates 5 is a pair of hook-shaped hinge members 7 which extend through openings 8 in the blades 1 and 2. The blades 1 and 2 thus have a loose hinge connection to the plates 5. Secured to the outer faces of these plates are resilient clips 9 which embrace the adjacent ends of the blades 1 and 2 and prevent them from wabblingon the hook members 7. Secured to the upperand lower edges of the beam 3 on each side thereof are angle irons 10 which are adapted to brace the beam.

In order that the blades 1 and 2 may be held in various angular relationship to each other, I have secured an angular member 11 to the inner face of each of the blades adjacent its rear and its lower edge. These angular members 11 are provided with a plurality of holes 12 and extending through the rear holes are vertical portions of brace bars 13. Brace rods 13 are secured to these bars 13 and are secured to ears 14-. These brace bars 13 extend from the members to which they are secured to the members 11 on the opposite blades and have hook-shaped ends which are adapted to engage in any one of the holes 12. Thus by changing the positions of the brace bars 13the angular relation of the blades 1 and 2 may be varied.

It will be obvious that, because of the loose hinge connection, between the rudder beam and the blades, that the beam may be shifted so as to lie in contact with the inner face of either of the blades. In order that the beam may be secured in this position, I have secured a socket member 14* to the inner face of each of the blades, at the rear end thereof, in which the lower edge of the beam 3 is adapted to seat. In order that this beam may be held in either of the socket members 1 1, I have provided a rod 15 which is slidable in bearings 16 on the upper edge of the reversed;

beam 3. Pivoted tothe rear end of this red 15 is a lever which has a link 18 connected thereto which link is at its other end connected to an eye 19 on the rear end of the beam 3. This lever 17 is provided with a projection 20 which is adapted to engage in a notch 21 in either of a pair of clips 22 which are secured to the rear ends of the blades 1 and 2. A hitch bar 23 is pivotally mounted on the forward end of the rod 15 and is provided with a plurality of openings 24- with which a clevis'25 is engageable. Pivoted to the end of this hitch bar 23 is a rod 26 which is secured at 27 to the rod 15. This rod 26 is adapted to engage in a notch 28 in either of a pair of clips 29, which clips are adj ustably secured to the upper edges of the blades 1 and 2 by bolts 30! which are adapted to pass through any of a plurality of holes 31. When the projection 20 on the lever 17 is engaged in the notch 21 in the clip 22 on the blade 1 the rudder beam 3 will be secured in place because of the fact that it will be prevented from moving out of the socket member 14. At this time the rod 26 will be engaged in the notch 28 in the clip 29 on the blade=2 and the hitch bar 23 will be secured in place, while the rod 15 will be prevented from rotating. When the machine is dragged with the parts in these positions, the blade 1 will extend parallel to the line of movement while the blade 2 will extend in angular relation thereto. The blade 2 will at this time act as a cutter while the outturned lower edge of the blade 1 will dig into the ground and prevent the machine from having lateral movement and will thus guide the machine. At the same time the rudder blade 1 will penetrate the ground and assist in guiding the machine so as to maintain the blade 2 in its angular position. When it is desired to use the blade 2 as a guide and the blade 1 as a cutter it is only necessary to disengage the projection 20 on the lever 17 from the notch 21 in the clip 22 and to move the lever about its pivot so that the rod 15 will be moved rearwardly and the rod 26 will be disengaged from the notch 28 in the clip 29. T he lever may then be moved so that the rod 15 will rotateand the direction in which the hitch bar extends will be The rudder may then be lifted and swung to the opposite side of the machine and secured in place in a manner similar to that in which it was secured to the blade 1. At this time the relation of the blades 1 and 2 will bereversed.

Hinged to the lower edge of the beam 3 is a platform 32 which is adapted to be swung to, either one side or the other 'of the beam so that it will be usefulirrespective of whether the beam is in contact with the blade 1- or the blade 2. This platform rests upon the brace bars 13 and is supported thereby in either of its positions.

It will be seen that I have provided a ditching and grading machine which includes a pair of scraper blades, which blades are alternately operable as guides and cutters and I have further provided means for closing the blades to act either as guides or cutters. Furthermore I have provided novel means for varying the position of the hitch bar so as to properly locate the line of draft. Furthermore I have secured the blades together in such manner that their angular relation may be varied.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it has merely been for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination with a rudder including a rudder blade and beam, of blades hinged to the forward end of the beam, a reversible platform hinged to the beam and means for securing the beam to either of the blades.

2. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination with a pair of blades, of a rudder including a rudder blade and a beam,

the pair of blades beinghingedly associated with the beam, a rod rotatably and slidably mounted upon the beam. a hitch bar mounted on the forward end of the rod, a rod connected to the bar and to the first mentioned rod, clips secured to the blades and adapted to receive the last mentioned rod and means for engaging the rod with either of said clips and simultaneously looking the beam in engagement with one of the blades.

3. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination with a pair of angularly disposed blades. of a rudder beam hingedly associated with the forward ends of said blade and movable to lie in contact with the inner face of either of the same and a platform hinged to the lower edge of the rudder beam and adapted to lie to either side thereof.

4. In a ditching and grading machine. the combination with a beam, of a pair of blades hinged to the forward end thereof, a rod slidably mounted upon the upper edge of said beam, a hitch bar secured to the forward end thereof and extending at right angles thereto, a rod secured to the end of the hitch bar and intermediate the ends of the first mentioned rod, a clip on each of said blades for engaging the last mentioned rod and means for moving the said rod into or out of engagement with the said clips.

5. In a ditching and grading machine, the combination with a stationary member, of a pair of blades hinged thereto, a rudder beam pivotally mounted on the said stationary member and adapted to have vertical moverelation to the blades and movable from side ment, and a platform hinged to the lower to side While in its raised position. 10 edge of the said beam. In testimony whereof, I affix my signa- 6. In a ditching and grading machine, the ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

5 combination With a stationary member, of a \VILLIAM T. PHIPPS.

pair of blades hinged thereto, and a rudder Witnesses: beam pivotally mounted on said member J AS. GILLIsoN, and adapted to have vertical movement with ISAAC F. BRESLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

